Pascoe (Germany)

Oxidative stress is a pivotal point in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and presumably also in Long-COVID. Inflammation and oxidative stress are mutually reinforcing each other, thus contributing to the systemic hyperinflammatory state and coagulopathy which are cardinal pathological mechanisms of severe stages. COVID-19 patients, like other critically ill patients e.g. with pneumonia, very often show severe deficiency of the antioxidant vitamin C. So far, it has not been investigated how long this deficiency lasts or whether patients with long COVID symptoms also suffer from deficiencies. A vitamin C deficit has serious pathological consequences because vitamin C is one of the most effective antioxidants, but also co-factor of many enzymatic processes that affect the immune and nervous system, blood circulation and energy metabolism. Because of its anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, endothelial-restoring, and immunomodulatory effects the supportive intravenous (iv) use of supraphysiological doses has been investigated so far in 12 controlled or observational studies with altogether 1578 inpatients with COVID-19. In these studies an improved oxygenation, a decrease in inflammatory markers and a faster recovery were observed. In addition, early treatment with iv high dose vitamin C seems to reduce the risks of severe courses of the disease such as pneumonia and also mortality. Persistent inflammation, thrombosis and a dysregulated immune response (auto-immune phenomena and/or persistent viral load) seem to be major contributors to Long-COVID. Oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the development and progression of fatigue and neuro-psychiatric symptoms in various diseases by disrupting tissue (e.g. autoantibodies), blood flow (e.g. immune thrombosis) and neurotransmitter metabolism (e.g. excitotoxicity). In oncological diseases, other viral infections and autoimmune diseases, which are often associated with fatigue, cognitive disorders, pain and depression similar to Long-COVID, iv high dose vitamin C was shown to significantly relieve these symptoms. Supportive iv vitamin C in acute COVID-19 might therefore reduce the risk of severe courses and also the development of Long-COVID.

Mit der vorliegenden Studienreihe wird empirisch untersucht, inwieweit die Markenliebe ein einheitliches Phanomen ist, oder ob sie eine Ansammlung verschiedener Phanomenen darstellt, welche sich durch eine Typologie beschreiben und abbilden lasst. Diese Forschungsfrage wurde, wie obiges Zitat verdeutlicht, bereits 1993 durch Ahuvia aufgeworfen, jedoch blieb sie bis heute unbeantwortet. Bei genauerer Betrachtung der moglichen Theorien zur Erklarung der Markenliebe kommt ein Problem zum Vorschein, das sich auf die Erklarungsfahigkeit verschiedener Theorien fur das Gesamtphanomen Markenliebe bezieht: Es zeigt sich, dass Theorien uber gewisse Teile des Phanomens oft als Theorien des Gesamtphanomens Markenliebe bezeichnet werden (z.B.: Selbsterweiterungstheorie, Dreieckstheorie der Liebe) (vgl. Albert/Merunka/Valette-Florence, 2008a, S. 1064).

Neben den typischen Merkmalen einer Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHS) treten sehr häufig komorbide Störungen auf, darunter depressive Verstimmungen bis hin zu schweren Depressionen [1, 2, 3]. Als ADHS-spezifische Medikation wird hauptsächlich Methylphenidat eingesetzt [4]. Nachteile dieser Therapie liegen in der relativ hohen Rate an Non-Respondern (ca. 30%) [2] und einem vergleichsweise hohen Nebenwirkungspotential [5], wobei die Langzeitrisiken, das Abhängigkeitspotential und die Gefahr für Wesensänderungen bisher noch nicht ausreichend untersucht wurden [5, 6]. Als wesentlicher Wirkmechanismus in der ADHS-Therapie werden zentral-nervöse Effekte durch die Wiederaufnahmehemmung (WAH) von Dopamin und Noradrenalin und die schwache Bindung an Serotonin-Transporter diskutiert [5].

The aim of this study was to examine prevalence and associations for use of CAM among People diagnosed with, or with a family risk for CHD in the 6th Troms Study. Methods A total of 12982 men and women (response rate 65.7%) filled in a selfadministrated questionnaire with questions about life style and health issues. Eight hundred and thirty of those had been diagnosed with either heart attack and/or angina pectoris while 4830 had a family risk for such disease due to close family members diagnosed with such disease. Results CAM use (CAM provider, OTC CAM products and/or CAM techniques) was found in 30.2% of the participants diagnosed with CHD and 35.8% of the participants with family risk of CHD (p < 0.001). Selfrated health, expectations for future health, preventive health beliefs and health behaviour were significant predictors of CAM use for those at risk of CHD. In the CHD patient group only health behaviour and self-rated health were significantly associated with CAM use.

Background: Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), also known as hay fever, is a widespread chronic respiratory disease. In treatment of SAR the use of complementary therapies is increasing, but little has been published about homeopathic complex remedies so far. Therefore, we think it is time to conduct and publish an appropriate observational study. Methods: Course of single symptoms, impairment of quality of life, general efficacy, and tolerability of a homeopathic complex remedy containing active substances on a low dilution level have been assessed and analyzed. Altogether, 123 patients with a history of allergic rhinitis of up to 45 years have been observed for about 4 weeks. Results: The majority of symptoms were shown to improve substantially and the patients' quality of life increased clearly. The overall symptom score decreased significantly from 10.3 ± 4.7 to 3.9 ± 3.1 points (p < 0.0001), and reduction of impairment of quality of life from 5.7 ± 2.3 to 1.9 ± 1.8 score points was also significant (p < 0.0001). Rating of efficacy of study medication was markedly better than efficacy rating of previous therapies (p = 0.0193). Apart from one temporary allergic reaction, the treatment was well tolerated. Conclusion: The homeopathic complex remedy (Pascallerg®) tested in this observational study offers a useful option in treatment of SAR in children and adults.

Pascoflair? 425 mg is a herbal drug based on Passiflora incarnata dry extract and is registered in different countries for the treatment of nervous restlessness and anxiety and also as an aid to sleep. The study was initiated for the quantitative assessment of the effect of this preparation on brain electric activity and cognition in human volunteers. Quantitative electroencephalographic current source density (CSD) from 16 healthy male and female human volunteers (average age 49 years) was used in a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study. Data were taken 0.5, 1.5, 3 and 4 hours after administration of the preparations under the conditions of 6 minutes eyes open, 5 minutes d2 concentration test, mathematical calculation test and memory test respectively. During mental load, changes in spectral band power were used to analyse drug-induced effects. All variables were fed into a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) for comparison with other drug profiles. Spectral power in the delta and theta range was significantly attenuated at 3 and 4 hours after administration in comparison with the time-dependent increase normally observed due to circadian rhythm. Discriminant analysis revealed a difference to placebo for all recordings as early as 30 minutes after intake of 3 coated tablets of Pascoflair? 425 mg. Using LDA data location within the poly-dimensional space, verum was projected into the area of the effects of Gingko/Ginseng as reference drugs tested earlier under identical conditions. Psychometric performance was not disrupted. Pascoflair? 425 mg can be regarded as a well characterized plant-derived drug with anxiolytic and calming properties without negative sedative and cognition-attenuating side effects. Current results document the effecttiveness of the preparation as early as after 30 minutes. In addition, they indicate persistence of good mental performance for hours. Trial registration: the study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under NCT01047605.

Harpagophytum procumbens (Hp) is often used in the supportive treatment of inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the skeletal system. Although the clinical efficacy in osteoarthritis has been demonstrated in clinical trials, the molecular target(s) of Hp are unclear. This study quantified the effects of the ethanol Hp extract (60% v/v ethanol, sole active ingredient of Pascoe®-Agil), on the expression and release of the major pro-inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated human monocytes and the intracellular signalling pathways involved in inflammation. The Hp extract dose-dependently inhibited the release of TNFα as well as that of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). The Hp prevented TNFα and IL-6 mRNA expression in human monocytes and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the Hp extract inhibited LPS-stimulated AP-1-mediated gene transcription activity and binding to the AP-1 response elements. The extract had no effect on the LPS-induced binding of nuclear factor-κB in RAW 264.7 cells, on LPS-induced degradation of IκBα or on LPS-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), p38MAPK and JNK in human monocytes. The data indicate that a standardized ethanol Hp extract inhibits induction of pro-inflammatory gene expression, possibly by blocking the AP-1 pathway. This is novel evidence of a possible mechanism of action of this antiinflammatory drug.

With the increasing amount of attention to marching bands/drum corps, more students are becoming marching athletes. These students must not only be accomplished musicians but also perform demanding choreography in constraining uniforms including shoes. Anecdotally, these shoes are the source of discomfort for many of these performers. PURPOSE: To determine if ankle angle at heel strike is significantly altered by walking in tennis shoes versus walking in marching shoes. METHODS: Voluntary subjects included 3 males and 3 females (20.1 ± 1.17 yrs) with extensive marching experience (6.8 ± 1.17 yrs). Reflective markers were attached to the right lateral epicondyle, lateral malleolus, and lateral distal end of the fifth metatarsal. Participants were asked to walk in three different shoe conditions: condition 1-tennis shoes, self-selected gait; condition 2- tennis shoes, marching gait; and condition 3- marching shoes, marching gait. Ankle angle was calculated using video analysis and were analyzed using a 1 (ankle angle) x 3 (condition) repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Main effect analysis for ankle angle revealed significance among conditions (p<0.05, power 1.0, r2 = 0.895). Follow up LSD Analysis revealed that these differences were between conditions 1 and 2 (111.6° ± 3.69 vs 101.2° ± 3.11, p = 0.001) and conditions 1 and 3 (111.6° ± 3.69 vs 103.9° ± 4.01, p = 0.020). Condition 2 was not found to be different from condition 3 (p = 0.151). CONCLUSION: Results revealed that the average ankle angle during heel contact is influenced more by changing the gait style from walking to marching (condition 1 and 2, 1 and 3) than changing the shoe type (condition 2 and 3). Thus, indicating that marching shoes, though uncomfortable, do not prevent the foot from achieving the same ankle angle at heel contact as marching in tennis shoes. Further research is needed to determine if the lack of support of support of the shoes alter other gait kinematics or kinetics.

Flip-flops are becoming a common footwear option and casual observation indicates that individuals are wearing flip-flops beyond the structural limit of flip-flops, and individuals alter their gait while wearing flip-flops. These observations suggest that flip-flops are a cause of pain in the lower extremities and are counterproductive to alleviating the pain if pain is present. PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of sneakers versus flip-flops on the angle constructed from the anterior and vertical force vectors (attack angle) and peak vertical force at heel contact. METHODS: Thirty-nine (20 F and 19 M) subjects were randomly assigned to a footwear order (flip-flip or sneaker first) and asked to wear the assigned footwear on the day prior to and the day of testing. Each participant walked at a normal pace, and force plate data yielded attack angles and peak force at heel contact. Data was analyzed with a 2 (sex) x 2 (footwear) ANOVA with repeated measures on the last factor. It was hypothesized that a person alters his/her gait while wearing flip-flops in such a manner that would result in a decreased attack angle and smaller peak vertical forces at heel contact when compared to his/her gait while wearing sneakers. RESULTS: There was a significance interaction in attack angle between sex (p = 0.042), with females producing a more vertical attack angle while wearing flip-flops (M = 82.9 degrees, SD = 2.0) than when wearing sneakers (M = 81.8 degrees, SD = 1.7). No significant difference was noted for males. Further, a significant difference (p = 0.005) was found in peak vertical force at heel strike between sneakers (M = 167 N, SD = 33) and flip-flops (M = 163 N, SD = 34) but no significant interaction (p = 0.459) was found between sex. CONCLUSION: While the attack angle yielded a significant difference, the amount of difference does not have any practical implications since it was so small. However, peak vertical force was statistically different between type of footwear, resulting in smaller peak vertical forces while wearing flip-flops. This decreased force could explain the anecdotal evidence that persons who wear flip-flops alter their normal gait and therefore experience lower leg pain as a result. Further research is needed to determine other kinetic and kinematic differences in gait while wearing flip-flops versus sneakers.